Nice one @Igor !

To be fair Daniel I don't think the good captain meant that the whole country froze like a block of ice. Andrecas's summation is of course right on the money.

To Ted: wrong statement regarding CANADA.
To Andrecas: many thanks for the mise-au-point or for your very complete report on real things...

In spite the cold temperatures experienced in certain parts of Canada during winter months, there are many ports open year-round (i.e. Halifax/Saint John/St. Johns, etc.). Even Sept I'les (Quebec) despite it's northerly location is open year round. The St. Lawrence Seaway navigation season generally extends from March to end December. However, Montreal is open year round with the help of icebreakers. Churchill, Manitoba on the Hudson Bay is iced in for much of the year (only accessible between late July/early November). And of course there's Vancouver, whose climate is such that palm type trees survive and are evident in and around the lower mainland. :)

Matty,, in Russia/Finland /Canada etc the sea freezes full power !!!!

Is she ice-locked? Or is she out of the water? I know it gets cold in Russia but not THAT cold for the sea to freeze surely?